Clinton County, New York Case Study

The Challenge

Difficult for local governments to cover the burdensome costs of building and maintaining expensive, complex facilities and administration to manage solid waste
Dissonance caused by obligation to fulfill traditional responsibility for waste management and public health and safety, while trying to avoid exhausting budgets or raising taxes
County officials began to challenge their government’s supposed role extending beyond garbage “policy” to the garbage “business”

Solid waste partnership with Casella allowed the county to address critical fiscal issues and simultaneously provided secure, long-term solutions to all of its waste disposal needs
In 1996, Casella began operating the entire county solid waste infrastructure under an innovative lease agreement that provided a two-decade guaranteed destination for waste generated within Clinton County at fixed, long-term guaranteed disposal prices

More than $22 million in cash and avoided costs for Clinton County over two decades
Eliminated the need to increase property taxes for homeowners and businesses
County gained greater control over its waste management future, allowing it to increase protection for taxpayers, fiscal health, and public and environmental health and safety